Credit checks on guarantors?

[Sioned11]

DS has put us down as guarantors for a flat he's moving into shortly. He asked us. That was fine. We're both in permanant posts - not paid a lot but enough to qualify as guarantors for this property.

The estate agents outsource the tenant application to an outside company. DS needed to supply employment details, references etc.

I'm now asked to provide my details with the same company and am worried that we'll be credit checked.

Years and years ago we found ourselves with bad credit - times were very tought, it was difficult and we ended up with CO to replay two debts. One is paid, the other almost cleared.

If there's any chance that they will go ahead with a check, I don't know what to do. Ring the estate agents and say there might be a problem? Offer to send them our pay slips? Can they bypass their own processes ie, in this case, in relation to guarantor checks?

Well first off have you checked your credit rating on Experian? If you had problems years ago is there a chance it could be okay now?

I can't think it would do any good talking to the estate agents. I did similar to you a few months ago for my ds and all the checking was done by an external agency (Good2rent). I had to supply 6 months worth of pay slips which seemed a bit excessive.

If think you have to let the checks go ahead and if the estate agent says they've been told there's a problem with your credit rating, it might be worth seeing if you and ds can negotiate with them - perhaps offer more rent in advance?

Thanks very much. I started the process to see what would happen - got to the bit where I had to say whether or not I had good credit. Anything on file 6 years ago or sooner. Trouble is the debt we're still paying (and we're very nearly there) may still be on file even though it was incurred over 6 years ago.

We've managed to lift ourselves up - house paid off now. I'm quite shaken by this. I guess the company will check (I have to supply proof of address as well as three payslips - yes, 6 months in your case was certainly excessive!).

I'll check with Experian. Then at least I'll know whether debts are still lying on the file and will be able to answer truthfully.

You say that you're still paying off debt - are you acting as guarantor just for your son, or does the responsibility extend to anyone in the flat? Just be very careful of what you're getting into.